Breakout Ventures

Breakout Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that backs scientist-entrepreneurs building companies at the intersection of biology, chemistry, computation, and AI. The firm grew out of Breakout Labs, a philanthropic grants program at the Thiel Foundation, before spinning into a traditional venture fund. With over $230M in AUM across three funds — a $60M Fund I (2017), a $112.5M Fund II (2021), and a $114M Fund III (closed March 2026) — Breakout focuses on pre-seed through Series A investments in science-driven companies. Portfolio companies span AI-powered diagnostics, sustainable aviation fuel, neural interfaces, bio-based materials, and industrial biotech. The firm typically leads or co-leads rounds and emphasizes deep technical partnership, network access to corporates and next-stage investors, and long-term conviction in founders commercializing hard science. Fund III is actively deploying into founders applying AI to biology, chemistry, and neuroscience.